Game apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A strategy game providing an educational and entertaining activity for children, adults, illiterate people, dyslexic people and players who do not speak a common language. The game comprises a game board, tiles, and cards. The game board includes a plurality of branching runways extending from a common starting space and ending in a plurality of ending spaces. Each branching runway is divided into a plurality of spaces. A subset of the spaces are special spaces and are identified as special spaces by at least one of design and indicia. The tiles comprise a plurality of sets of unique tiles, each tile of each set having at least one of a design, indicia, and color identifying a place in a natural sequence of tiles of the set, such that each set contains a complete natural sequence. The cards each have one of a number of unique designs. The plurality of tiles may be laid in the natural sequence on the spaces, and the cards are drawn by players to form a complete set based on how the tiles are laid on the game board.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to board games. More specifically, the invention relates to board games requiring significant cognitive skills for critical thinking.

2. Prior Art

Various strategy board games are known, but in general they require that the participants be fluent in a common language or be proficient or literate in language. Games that don't require language proficiency, such as certain card games and board games intended for children, are exceedingly simple and depend much more on luck than critical thinking such as that involving the analysis of multiple variables in order to win. Other known games, usually considered adult games, such as chess, backgammon, and even checkers, lack the excitement of the element of chance.

Heretofore unrecognized is the need for a simple to learn and fun board game that requires no language skills to play, yet requires significant cognitive skills for critical thinking, and has some element of chance as well.

SUMMERY

The game board comprises a plurality of spaces organized into multiple runways. Runways are adjacent to the starting point at the center of the board. Branch runways are adjacent to a plurality of runway spaces. Many of the spaces are subdivided into subspaces. Some of these spaces are subdivided into subspaces The center space is the starting point. Prism subspaces are at the intersecting space of a runway and a branch runway. Prisms indicate that the direction of the spectrum sequence may reverse. In its main embodiment, each runway ends with a subspace, star endpoint. Each branch runway ends with a subspace, circle endpoint. The game typically includes pieces known as color tiles. Once tiles are played, they do not move for the duration of the game. The game also typically includes cards known as color cards. Cards are accumulated throughout the game. A card can be acquired in multiple ways; From the deck when a player's tile supply is depleted. When a tile is played on a circle endpoint. When a tile is played on a star endpoint. On a star endpoint, a player has the option of taking a card from another player. To win the game, typically a player must accumulate a set of six various cards to form a full color spectrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first board of a game in accordance with the game;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a second board for an embodiment of the game;

FIG. 3 illustrates the front of various color cards in accordance with the game;

FIG. 4 illustrates perspective views of various color tiles in accordance with the game;

FIG. 5 is a top view of various color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a third set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a fourth set of color tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the game;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a tile holder in accordance with the game

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary game board 7 having game board features thereon defining a starting space 10 and a plurality of branching runways extending from starting space 10 and terminating in a plurality of dead ends. Each runway has a starting point at starting space 10, follows one of a plurality of main branches, 11 a, a number of intermediate branches 11 b, and ends at an ending branch 11 c. Each runway is divided into a number of spaces 9, which in the example are square in shape, though they may take the form of any shape.

Starting point 10 may include some indicia or indication that it is the starting point. In the exemplary embodiment, starting point 10 is indicated by a star. At the end of each ending branch 11 c is a special space of two different types identified by a color or design. In game board 7, each ending point is identified as a special space by either a 5-point star or a circle, although other designs and/or indicia may be similarly used. In addition, there is a special space 12 at each branching-off point along the runways identified in the example game board 7 by a triangle. While the special places are located as shown, there is no requirement that each branch end be identified as a special space, and the circle and 5-point stars may identify other spaces as being special. Likewise, other spaces aside from runway intersections, may be identified as a special space 12 using a triangle or other design/indicia.

Although the exemplary embodiment has starting point 10 located in the center of the game board, this is not a requirement for the game. Furthermore, indicia and markings may be printed, applied, or otherwise formed onto the surface of game board 7. Furthermore, game board 7 may be impressed with the game board features described above. Depending upon the material game board 7 is made from, game board features may be burned, carved, engraved, etched, or molded, or additional similar known techniques, and combinations thereof may be employed.

Furthermore, game board 7 and other elements of this invention to be described can be implemented in a computer system for single-player or multiple-player play. For example, a single player could play against any number of computer-generated “virtual” opponents as is known in the art of computer games. Alternatively, a plurality of players can compete by taking turns on a single computer or video game console or using a plurality of computers connected via a computer network, for example, using LAN and/or Internet connections.

In addition to game board 7, the disclosed game comprises a number of tiles comprising a number of sets of tiles wherein each set contains a complete natural sequence of tiles. An exemplary set of tiles are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5′ wherein an exemplary red tile 21, orange tile 22, yellow tile 23, green tile 24, blue tile 25 and violet tile 26, are shown. By way of example, the game may include 30 tiles of each color. Note that tiles may be of any shape or size, so long as they fit in spaces 9 of game board 7. Furthermore, they may be made of any of various materials known in the art. Thus, while the term, “tile” is used, they could be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or the like materials. For example, each tile may be made of transparent colored plastic, thereby identifying its place in the natural sequence of tiles while at the same time allowing one to see through the tile to game board 7.

In addition to, or instead of colors, each tile may be identified with a number, design, or size such as shown in exemplary tiles of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. FIG. 6 shows a series of tiles each having a number identified by a number of dots, as is commonly seen on dice and on dominoes. Likewise, FIG. 7 shows a series of designs wherein the space is divided into a number of sections. FIG. 8 shows a series of tiles each having a circle with a diameter of a different size. The designs shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 may also incorporate the varying colors of the tiles shown in FIG. 5. For example, domino dots 32 may have a unique color, or the background color behind domino dots 32 may be colored. Furthermore, tiles may have one design on one side and another design on the other. For example, each tile may have just solid color on one side, and a number or design on the other. In the case where tiles are transparent or have designs on both sides, they may be picked out of an opaque bag. Otherwise, they may be placed face down and selected at random by the players. An important aspect of each series of tiles is that they follow a natural sequence such that, for any given tile, a preceding tile and succeeding tile may be easily identified. As will become understood, there is no “correct” direction of the sequence. In other words, whether going from red to violet or the reverse is not important.

A tile holder 30 as shown in FIG. 29 is used by each player to conceal his or her tiles from opponants.

A final element of the game is a deck of cards 40 as shown in FIG. 3 b. For the deck of cards 40 there are a number of unique designs, for example six. In the exemplary embodiment there are five copies of each of the six unique designs. The design of the cards are not important and deck of cards 40 could be representative of anything, though it is desirable that they fit with the theme of the game. In the example disclosed, and shown in FIG. 3 a, each unique card 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 has a large dot of one of the colors of the rainbow, i.e., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Although it is the case for the disclosed example, it is not necessary that the cards correlate to the tiles. In other words, there may be more unique card designs than tile designs, or less, and they may be decorated in anyway that distinguishes them from the remaining designs without regard to how the tiles are designed.

Various other combinations of pieces can be played with. For example, the game can also be played with two hundred forty tiles in the six different colors instead of one hundred eighty or forty cards instead of thirty. A number of “wild” cards (not shown) that can stand in for any of the other cards can be mixed in the deck. Likewise, a number of “wild” tiles (not shown) can be used that could stand in for any other tile.

Finally, each player is given a tile holder 30 configured to hold that player's tiles and keep neighboring players from seeing the tiles.

Gameplay:

All of the color tiles 5 are placed face down on a flat surface. Each player picks nine tiles and places them in a tile holder. Alternatively, all the tiles are placed in an opaque bag and tiles are removed from the bag without looking at them. The cards are shuffled and placed in a deck face down. Gameplay is turn-based. One of the players is selected to go first. For example, each player may choose a card 3 to see who plays first. The player with the highest value card plays first, with violet being the highest value. If two or more players pick the same card, they pick again until one player wins the draw. The winning player plays first and play continues in a predetermined direction, e.g., clockwise. All cards are returned to the deck and reshuffled.

The goal of the game is to acquire at least one card of each unique design. Cards are acquired by running out of tiles, or by ending a series on one of special spaces, 13, 14. If a series ends on a special space 14, than the next card in the deck is drawn. If a series end on a special space 13, than the player may choose to either remove the next card from the deck, or take one of his or her opponents' cards. If the player runs out of tiles, than he or she can also remove the next card from the deck and draw a number of tiles, e.g., six, from the remaining tiles.

So, the first player places a series of tiles in their natural sequence from his or her tile holder beginning on the starting point 10. Typically, a player will want to play as long a sequence as he can, but there is no requirement that he or she do so. The players do not have to place all the tiles that they can and may in fact, choose not to place any. He concludes his turn by picking a tile from the pile and adding it to his tile holder. For the color tiles shown in FIG. 5, the natural sequence would be in the order of a color spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. The sequence may be repeated or looped from violet back to red. The series of tiles laid down initially could be in either direction. For example, red, orange, yellow, green or green yellow, orange, red. The direction of the sequence must be maintained by following players, but the sequence may reverse directions at special spaces 12.

The following is an example of game play in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Suppose the sequence of the first player ends with a green tile 24 succeeding a yellow tile 23. The next player must place a blue tile 25 in order to play from this sequence. If the green tile is three spaces from an endpoint and the player has a blue, violet, and red tile, he can reach the endpoint and acquire a card. If the endpoint is a circle endpoint he may pick a card from the deck. If the endpoint is a star endpoint he may either choose a card from another player or he may pick a card from the deck.

If the red tile had landed on a special space 12 which may be called a “prism space”, the following player or players may next play either an orange tile 22 or a violet tile 26 because the sequence direction may reverse at special spaces 12. Play following the violet tile would then continue with a blue tile 25 followed by a green tile 24 and so on.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the game in which play is easier and more suited for children. The board includes subspaces, starting point 10 and a plurality of endpoints 14.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention's contribution to the art. 

1. A board game comprising: a game board having features defining a plurality branching runways, extending from a common starting space and ending in a plurality of ending spaces, each said branching runway being divided into a plurality of spaces, a subset of said spaces being special spaces and being identified as special spaces by at least one of design and indicia; a plurality of tiles comprising a plurality of sets of unique tiles, each tile of each set having at least one of a design, indicia, and color identifying a place in a natural sequence of tiles of one of said sets, such that each said set contains a complete natural sequence; and a plurality of cards each having one of a number of unique designs; wherein said plurality of tiles may be laid in said natural sequence on said spaces, and said cards are drawn by players to form a complete set of said unique designs based on how said tiles are laid on said game board.
 2. The board game of claim 1 wherein: said game board, tiles, and cards are implemented on a computer system.
 3. The board game of claim 2 wherein said computer system is networked to at least one other computer for multi-player play over said network.
 4. The board game of claim 1 wherein each said tile fits on each of said spaces of said game board.
 5. The board game of claim 1 wherein said natural sequence of tiles comprises tiles each being one of colors of a visible spectrum comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, said natural sequence being in accordance with said visible spectrum.
 6. The board game of claim 1 wherein each said number of unique designs comprises a color of a visible spectrum comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
 7. The board game of claim 1 wherein said special spaces are located at ends of said runways.
 8. The board game of claim 1 wherein said special spaces comprise special spaces of a first type and special spaces of a second type, said special spaces being located at ends of said runways.
 9. The board game of claim 8 wherein said special spaces of said first type are located at ends that are farther away from said starting space than said special spaces of said second type.
 10. The board game of claim 9 wherein said special spaces of said first type indicate that when a player lays a series of tiles ending thereon, a top card may be drawn from the deck, and said special spaces of said second type indicate that when said player lays a series of tiles ending thereon, said player may draw said top card or take one from an opponent.
 11. The board game of claim 1 wherein said special spaces comprise special spaces of a first type and special spaces of a second type, said first type of said special spaces comprising special spaces having indications that a card may be drawn when a series of tiles ends at said special spaces of said first type, and said special spaces of said second type indicate that said natural sequence of tiles may be reversed at said special space of said second type.
 12. The board game of claim 11 wherein said special spaces of said first type are identified by indicia including at least on of a circle and a star, and said special spaces of said second type are identified by indicia including a triangle.
 13. The board game of claim 1 wherein each tile is a uniform color.
 14. The board game of claim 1 said tiles have a first side and a second side, wherein each side has a design identifying a position in said natural sequence.
 15. The board game of claim 14 wherein one of said first side and said second sides comprises a solid color.
 16. The board game of claim 1 wherein said starting space is in a center of said gameboard.
 17. The board game of claim 1 wherein each space is identified with a square border.
 18. The board game of claim 1 further comprising tile holders configured to conceal said tiles from other players.
 19. The board game of claim 1 wherein said cards each have a color being one of colors of a visible spectrum, said colors comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
 20. The board game of claim 19 wherein each said plurality of tiles each have a color that is one of said colors of the visible spectrum. 